Chapter 6: Kill, Be Killed

After witnessing the scene, Nanxi—who had read plenty of storybooks—had already pieced together a rough outline of the plot in his mind.

The two caught in the middle were surely a powerful servant skilled in martial arts from some high official’s household, and the one being protected was the child of a wealthy tyrant. 

After all, both were dressed in luxurious finery.

Even the old servant’s clothes were ten times more lavish than those of the two young misses from the Zhang family.

Thus, Nanxi was certain they were the vile spawn who oppressed the common folk.

The group of Daoists facing them clearly bore a grudge—otherwise their killing intent wouldn’t be so intense. 

The reason was undoubtedly that the girl had committed some outrageously wicked deed backed by her family’s power.

As for the nun opposite them, she was surely one of those bald donkeys who preached Buddhist mercy while taking money to protect people.

That was probably the whole story.

Nanxi very much wanted to rush in and uphold justice, but given the situation, he was more inclined to side with the Daoists. 

Besides, this had nothing to do with him. 

He had no desire to get himself covered in trouble.

In the end, Nanxi chose reason. 

He prepared to slip away quietly and think about how to cook the fish.

He had no intention of stirring up trouble, but the Daoists and the nun had other ideas.

What they were about to do could not be known by anyone outside their group.

“Hold on, little brother. Where do you think you’re going?”

“Young benefactor, no need to leave in such a hurry. Why not stay and discuss Buddhist principles with this humble monk?”

Both sides turned to the boy at the same time, their words laced with threats. 

Looking at the girl and the old woman’s clothing, Nanxi instantly understood—these people were robbing officials.

If even a whisper of this got out, not even a thousand heads would be enough for the authorities to chop.

But eight opponents were far too many. 

If he had his sword with him, it might be different, but Nanxi hadn’t brought any weapon. 

It would be difficult for the boy to defeat them bare-handed.

Yet it wasn’t impossible.

“How shameful for people claiming to be from great righteous sects. If you want revenge, come for me. Why bully a child?”

Before Nanxi could think of a perfect plan, Feng Anlan—who was surrounded by both sides—began mocking these so-called upright sects.

Normally, out of fear for her life, she would have stayed silent and used the moment to escape.

But as expected, she was already a dead woman walking. She might as well let loose. 

At the very least, this innocent boy might still have a chance to flee and not die because of her.

“Little Feng sparrow, we’ll grant your death wish soon enough. As for this child… so exquisitely handsome—I can’t help but pity him. Wouldn’t it be better to take him back and dote on him properly?”

Before Feng Anlan could retort to the Daoist woman, the nun spoke up.

“Amitabha. Daoist Qingwei, there is no need for that. It would tarnish your sect’s reputation. This humble monk sees that the child has affinity with Buddha. How about this: the Buddhist sect will forgo Benefactor Feng’s life, but the child…”

Before she could finish, the Daoist woman laughed and cursed.

“Hey, you lewd nun. No wonder you always silently recite the Tripitaka whenever you see a handsome man—you’re just starving for it! Hahahaha!”

The Daoist woman burst into loud laughter after speaking, and not one of her surrounding disciples failed to join in. 

Seeing the situation, the nun flushed with shame and hurriedly protested.

“What nonsense! My Buddhist sect takes lust as a prohibition. How could I harbor such filthy thoughts!”

Seeing the nun truly flustered, the Daoist woman stopped laughing and made a suggestion.

“Fine, fine. I’ll do you a favor this once. The child is yours…”

“Really?”

The nun’s eyes lit up immediately.

“Look at you, desperate as a dog rushing for shit. I wasn’t finished—the boy is yours, but my disciples and I get a taste too.”

As she spoke, the Daoist woman didn’t forget to lick her cracked lips—chapped from the cold weather—with a tongue coated in yellow film. 

Even her disciples beside her swallowed audibly.

“Amitabha. That is only natural. Since Daoist Sister is so generous, this humble monk naturally won’t refuse her kindness.”

The nun hypocritically praised the Daoist woman lavishly, then added,

“In that case, please.”

“Please.”

Both sides moved toward their prey. 

But the moment the nun turned away, a silver-white flash pierced through her chest.

“Jiechen, you fool! As long as you’re dead, both this little sparrow’s life and this little lover’s body will be all mine.”

The Daoist woman had no intention of yielding such a peerless beauty to another.

The sword struck straight through the nun’s heart and esophagus. 

Choking on blood filling her mouth, she couldn’t even curse. 

She could only slowly feel death claiming her before collapsing stiffly to the ground.

“Sigh. We did share a few moments of fate after all. Don’t worry—I won’t let you become a lonely ghost. Once this is over, I’ll chop you into mincemeat and feed you to the fish. That suits your compassionate heart for all living things, doesn’t it?”

Seeing the sword still lodged in the fat nun’s body and not yet withdrawn, Nanxi knew his chance had come.

Almost the instant the thought formed, his body moved. 

Like a flying arrow, he dashed toward the corpse and seized the sword hilt.

By the time the Daoist woman reacted, it was too late. 

Her right hand—reaching for the sword—had already been severed by Nanxi.

Fresh red blood sprayed out, splattering half the boy’s body. 

That bloodstained peerless face turned demonic.

“You pack of beasts. You really put on a good show of infighting for me. But you were too presumptuous. What made you so confident you could beat me?”

With those words, inner force surged from the boy’s body. 

The power frosted every tree within a thousand meters, even sealing the Daoist woman’s wound in ice.

Everyone present was stunned by the sight—including the master and servant pair. 

They had planned to seize this moment of the Daoist woman’s distraction to carve a bloody escape, never expecting the seemingly delicate boy to be such an expert.

“Acquired realm… and my Daoist sect’s cold qi. How—”

Thud—

What ended her words was a white flash and the sound of a head hitting the ground.

Blood gushed like a fountain from the severed neck, turning the sky into a brief rain of crimson.

Then the boy turned to the scum who had wanted to defile him and charged with sword raised.

The six disciples, seeing this, did not panic. 

They moved in perfect order, immediately forming a sword formation.

In their view, escape was impossible. Better to gamble everything. 

Though the brat’s realm and inner force were profound, his swordsmanship couldn’t possibly match theirs—they who were called geniuses among their peers in the jianghu.

Unfortunately, imagination is just imagination. Reality would give them a tremendous surprise.

Seeing them form the sword array, Nanxi’s eyes grew even colder. 

His figure suddenly accelerated until only afterimages remained.

Then six chilling glints flashed within the formation, and the six heads parted ways with their bodies.

“Hmph.”

The boy merely snorted coldly. 

Without another glance at the six corpses collapsing straight behind him, he walked directly toward the master and servant pair.